Your guide to the decisions Boone County voters will face Tuesday at the polls

By THE TRIBUNE'S STAFF

Sunday

Oct 31, 2010 at 12:01 AMOct 31, 2010 at 7:00 AM

Tuesday’s midterm election will bring decisions on statewide issues including a measure on dog breeding and a contentious U.S. Senate race. Locally, a contest for county presiding commissioner and a proposed ban on Taser use in Columbia have stirred debate.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s a wrap-up of contested items on the ballot in Boone County:

U.S. SENATE

Robin Carnahan, Democrat

Roy Blunt, Republican

Jonathan Dine, Libertarian

Jerry Beck, Constitution

The contest for U.S. Senate pits members of two prominent political families against each other in an election marked by relentless negative ads.

Blunt, a Springfield Republican, has been an officeholder for most of the past 38 years, first as Greene County clerk, then Missouri secretary of state and, since 1996, congressman from the Seventh District. His father was a state representative; his son was governor.

Carnahan is holding her first elective post as Missouri’s secretary of state, winning the office in 2004, and is seeking to put both Senate seats in Democratic hands for the first time since 1977. Her father, Mel Carnahan, was governor, her grandfather was a congressman and her brother holds a congressional seat as well.

Blunt has painted Carnahan as a tool of the Obama administration who will vote for massive spending programs and taxes on energy that will send utility rates soaring. Carnahan has attacked Blunt as a Washington insider who helped contributors and family members get lucrative earmarks and who courted lobbyists as second in command of the House Republicans during the early years of the Bush administration.

Montee and Schweich, 50, each have touted their work experience while proclaiming political independence. Schweich, an attorney and former State Department official from St. Louis, has pledged to bring a law enforcement background and a prosecutor’s eye to aggressively pursue fraud and waste within government. Montee, who is an attorney and an accountant, promotes a more collaborative approach that works with governmental agencies to correct the problems identified in audits.

NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Blaine Luetkemeyer, Republican

Christopher W. Dwyer, Libertarian

Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, is defending his seat against Dwyer.

Luetkemeyer, first elected in 2008, serves on a number of House committees that deal with small business, rural development, agriculture and conservation. As a member of the minority party in Congress, Luetkemeyer hasn’t been able to stop Democratic measures such as health care reform or stimulus packages. But he said he knows constituents are concerned about the direction the country is headed.

“I’ve gone through the district and every weekend visit with people,” he said. “People are mad as hell, and that’s hell with a capital H.”

His Libertarian opponent is among that group. Dwyer, of Hallsville, said he’s concerned about the future of the country. His platform mirrors that of the tea party: He supports the free market and fears the federal government is getting too big. “I want to give power back to people,” Dwyer said.

Luetkemeyer does not have a Democratic challenger, but two candidates have emerged as write-ins: Jeff Reed and Ron Burrus.

21ST HOUSE DISTRICT

Kelly Schultz, Democrat

John W. Cauthorn, Republican

Schultz, 33, has been a policy analyst and legislative assistant at the state Capitol for 11 years. She lives in Shaw, just east of Columbia. Her top issues are education funding, job creation and scrutinizing tax credit programs. Schultz is in favor of letting voters decide whether to raise the state’s cigarette tax, which is the lowest in the nation.

Cauthorn, 63, an Audrain County farmer and former state senator, sees Tuesday’s election as a national referendum against Democrats. He’s a proponent of pushing back against federal mandates and regulations that he said create burdens for small businesses and taxpayers. Cauthorn promises to be a strong voice for Boone County and the University of Missouri, and he opposes tax increases as a way of shoring up the state’s budget.

The winner will fill the seat being vacated by Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, who was forced out by term limits.

23RD HOUSE DISTRICT

Stephen Webber, Democrat

Paul Szopa, Republican

Webber is seeking re-election for his second term in Jefferson City.

Webber, 27, a law student at the University of Missouri and an Iraq war veteran, said he’s proud of the work he has done as the youngest member of the General Assembly. Webber said last year he fought to protect MU’s operating budget, which received only a 5 percent cut while some state agencies saw deeper reductions. He is also proud of his work to expand the Quality Jobs Act in 2009, which helped lure IBM to Columbia. And Webber pointed to his success in advancing the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bill he sponsored made it out of committee for the first time after years of failed attempts.

For the first time in recent years, a Republican name will appear on the ballot in the 23rd District. Paul Szopa, 65, a hardware store employee and dedicated conservative, decided to challenge Webber, saying he doesn’t “believe in uncontested elections.”

Szopa said, if elected, public safety and fully funding the Department of Agriculture will top his priority list. He said he believes in lowering taxes on small businesses and cutting away regulations that burden job creators. He has called for a two- or three-year freeze on salaries of elected and appointed state officials.

24TH HOUSE DISTRICT

Chris Kelly, Democrat

Laura Nauser, Republican

The incumbent, Kelly, is being challenged by Nauser, the Fifth Ward Columbia city councilwoman. Kelly is promoting himself as an effective lawmaker who can work with the Republican majority. He has been an officeholder for almost all of the past 33 years, including 12 years in the House before term limits were imposed. He pointed to bills transferring Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center to the University of Missouri, creating a guest tax for Ashland and giving casino revenue to veterans programs and early childhood education as proof of his ability.

Kelly wants to put ballot measures raising the cigarette tax and a state bond issue on the ballot.

Nauser offers a business-like attitude toward state fiscal and economic development issues. The state needs to examine whether to privatize some functions and take other cost-cutting measures to support education programs, she said. Nauser supports tax incentives to bring data centers to Boone County, as does Kelly. Nauser said she will be a more conservative voice in the House and work to keep taxes down.

Nauser, who is a court-appointed special advocate for juveniles, has worked to find solutions to youth crime in Columbia and said she would continue that effort in the legislature.

BOONE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

J. Scott Christianson, Democrat

Ed Robb, Republican

Former state representative and budgeting consultant Robb, 67, has put the Boone County Government Center on notice. Robb wants to overhaul the county’s budgeting process, and he wants to pursue instituting a charter form of government as a way to address what he calls “outrageous salaries” for the county’s 12 elected officials, all of whom are Democrats.

Robb insists he has a more realistic view of the economy than Christianson — and a better background for dealing with the county’s financial picture.

Christianson, endorsed by retiring Presiding Commissioner Ken Pearson, says Boone County is “headed in the right direction” and promises a seamless transition in leadership.

“How are we going to continue to build on the success we have seen?” he asked at a recent candidate forum. “From my perspective, our county officials have done fairly well.”

Christianson, 42, the owner of a audio-visual technology company, said Boone County is “uniquely positioned” to gain high-tech jobs because of ongoing research at the University of Missouri and the possibility of attracting data centers and similar industries.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

As state and local government revenues decline, Missouri politicians might be tempted to raise taxes.

But the Missouri Association of Realtors doesn’t want lawmakers looking to its industry as a potential source of income. The group raised $4.57 million to get Constitutional Amendment 3 on the ballot and persuade Missourians to vote in favor of it. The amendment would prevent the assessment of real estate transfer taxes, which — if enacted — could be charged when a property is sold or inherited.

Realtors consider such charges “double taxation.” No organized opposition has stepped forward this election season to oppose the amendment’s passage.

Voters will be asked to approve or reject two other constitutional amendments:

Constitutional Amendment 1 asks voters to decide whether St. Louis County should have an elected, not an appointed, county assessor. However, the issue is moot because in August, St. Louis County voters took pre-emptive action and decided to make the change themselves.

Constitutional Amendment 2 would exempt former prisoners of war who also have a totally service-connected disability from paying property taxes. An estimated 150 people statewide could benefit from the amendment.

PROPOSITION A: EARNINGS TAX

Proposition A would ban local earnings taxes in areas that don’t already have them and force votes in April in Kansas City and St. Louis, which do have the taxes.

Supporters argue the measure will help promote business growth in Kansas City and St. Louis if voters reject the taxes but also point out that approval of Proposition A will not automatically repeal the levies.

If voters in either city choose to end the tax, it would be reduced each year for 10 years until it is eliminated. If the taxes are reapproved by voters in either city, it would appear on the ballot every five years for renewal.

Opponents charge that Proposition A would devastate Kansas City and St. Louis financially by removing 33 percent or more of each city’s general revenue. They raise the specter of layoffs that would cut the number of firefighters, police and other essential service positions in each city.

Proposition A is being promoted by $11.3 million from Rex Sinquefield, a retired investment adviser from Westphalia. St. Joseph is the only other city in Missouri with the authority to ask voters for earnings taxes. If earnings taxes were to be allowed in any other city, lawmakers would have to pass a bill to allow it.

PROPOSITION B: DOG BREEDING

Few issues have generated as much polarized passion as Proposition B, the so-called “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act.”

The ballot initiative backed by massive out-of-state contributions from the Humane Society of the United States was designed to improve the conditions for dogs in large-scale breeding operations. Many animal advocacy groups have pointed to Missouri as the epicenter of bad breeding practices, sending maladjusted, sickly puppies to pet stores around the nation.

“These standards of care — if you can call them that — are inconsistent with the values of the people of the state of Missouri,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society.

Current state law allows dogs to be kept in wire enclosures only slightly larger than their bodies and does not limit the number of dogs a breeder can own or the number of times a female can be bred without rest. Proposition B would cap the number of dogs that may be kept for breeding at 50. It would mandate that dogs not be bred more than twice in a period of 18 months and would demand stricter veterinary care. Breeders found in violation of these rules would be charged with a misdemeanor.

But breeders and a state veterinary group have fought back. They say the Humane Society is a radical group that wants to end animal husbandry. They also point out that Missouri has 22 pages of regulations already on the books dictating that puppies be kept in a safe, humane manner. Breeders insist the measure would end their livelihood.

“If you’re a good operator and you’ve played by the rules, this will put you out of business,” said Alan Wessler, a veterinarian and vice president of MFA Inc.

PROPOSITION 1: PARKS TAX

Columbia city leaders are counting on voter appreciation of the expanded and enhanced park system built over the past 10 years to win passage of the second extension of a sales tax that pays for new parkland and park construction.

Proposition 1 would extend for five years a one-eighth-cent sales tax. First approved in 2000, the money has paid for the acquisition of Stephens Park. The tax has also supplied money to buy Gans Creek Recreation Area, build baseball fields at Atkins Park and put shelters and playgrounds in several neighborhood parks.

If approved, the tax extension would raise about $12 million over the next five years. Of that amount, more than $2 million would be set aside for buying land for community and neighborhood parks and trails. Another $4.76 million would pay for park improvements, $2.1 million would be used for trails and $2.5 would go to developing new parks. The rest would be set aside in a contingency fund.

If the tax fails, the current levy would expire on March 31 and the total sales tax rate in the city would fall from 7.35 percent to 7.225 percent. Without the tax, most city park land purchases and major construction projects would be put on hold.

PROPOSITION 2: TASERS

Columbia voters will decide whether Taser use by police and residents will be allowed.

Proposition 2 would create an ordinance making it illegal for any Columbia police officer, assisting law enforcement personnel or any other individual to threaten to use or to activate any conducted electrical device, or CED, in the city. That includes the use of, but is not limited to, Tasers, stun guns, stun belts or shock sticks. Columbia police and Boone County sheriff’s officers carry Tasers.

Violation of the ordinance would be a Class A misdemeanor and could result in up to a one-year prison sentence. In essence, the ordinance would make it illegal to use a CED in Columbia, but it would still be legal to carry, purchase or sell the device.

Supporters of the ban believe it is too risky to deploy a CED on a subject without knowledge of the person’s medical history and that the device is cruel and used to punish subjects resisting arrest, said Mary Hussmann, People for a Taser-Free Columbia organizer.

Supporters of Taser use tell stories of aggressive suspects and violent situations that have been curtailed when police have displayed or deployed a Taser. In those cases, the Taser is a safer choice because officers don’t have to wrestle with suspects to take them into custody, Columbia police training Sgt. John Worden said.

ROCHEPORT UTILITY AGREEMENT

Voters in the tiny Missouri River town of Rocheport will decide whether their burg should enter into a new 20-year utility franchise agreement with Boone Electric Cooperative.

The ballot question proposes minor changes to an existing agreement between Rocheport and Boone Electric for the cooperative to have exclusive rights to provide electricity to the town’s residents. In exchange, the cooperative would agree to provide services such as security lighting, street lighting and other services.

HARRISBURG SCHOOL LEVY

The Harrisburg School District is asking voters for an increase in its operating tax levy rate for the first time since the early 1990s. If voters approve the increase, it will mean a 30-cent increase on the levy for taxpayers, raising the operating levy from $3.41 per $100 of assessed value to $3.71.

Superintendent Lynn Proctor said the increase is necessary to avoid more deficit spending, which the district has relied on for the past five or six years.

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